Columbia Power and Water Systems

What Columbia Power and Water Systems does

Columbia Power and Water Systems (CPWS) is a municipal public utility owned by the City of Columbia, Tennessee, and governed by a five-member Board of Public Utilities, in continuous operation since 1939. It distributes electricity to approximately 38,000 meters, water to approximately 28,000 meters, and broadband internet ("PowerNet") to approximately 7,000 customers across Columbia and Maury County. Electricity is purchased wholesale from the Tennessee Valley Authority under rates regulated by TVA, water is drawn directly from the Duck River with rates approved by the Columbia City Council and quality regulated by TDEC, and broadband is delivered over a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network within city limits with ongoing fiber-to-the-home expansion in county neighborhoods.

The underlying technology stack combines physical infrastructure (HFC and FTTx distribution assets, a 20 million-gallons-per-day water treatment capacity currently being expanded, substation and grid operations with vegetation management) with back-office systems centered on NISC's SmartHub billing and customer-management platform, which supports online account access, paperless billing, autopay, and daily/hourly usage data. A website, mobile app, phone contact center, and a 2026-launched retail cash-payment channel via VanillaDirect (Dollar General, CVS, Walgreens) complete the distribution surface.

The business model is subscription/recurring across all three services, with monthly billing and regulated or council-approved rates. Revenue streams include electric distribution pass-through (TVA-regulated), water distribution (tiered residential, commercial, industrial, and sales-for-resale rates), and broadband ($50-$100/month residential and business tiers). CPWS also generates ancillary revenue from security lighting, energy advisory services (audits, infrared and lighting analysis), renewable power options, impact fees for new water connections, and community programs such as Good Samaritan bill assistance and RoundUp school technology funding.

Name

Columbia Power and Water Systems

Legal name

Columbia Power & Water Systems

Website

https://cpws.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Columbia Power and Water Systems is a municipal public utility serving Columbia and Maury County, Tennessee since 1939 with electricity (38,000 meters), water (28,000 meters), and broadband internet (7,000 customers), operated under the city's Board of Public Utilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Utilities (Electric, Water, and Broadband)

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Power Districts & State/Provincial Utilities (EUADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations) (EUANAAAD), Digital Self-Service & Customer Portals (web/mobile, e-bill, notifications, consumption dashboards) (EUANAIAI), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Electric power distribution
• Water utility services
• Broadband internet services
• Municipal utility services
• Public utility billing

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Electric Power Distribution: Distribution of electricity to approximately 38,000 customers. CPWS purchases power from TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) and distributes it to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Rates are regulated by TVA.
2. Water Distribution: Water distribution to approximately 28,000 customers. CPWS draws water directly from the Duck River. Water rates are approved by Columbia City Council.
3. Broadband Internet Services: High-speed internet service to approximately 7,000 customers including homes and businesses. CPWS Internet was established in 2003. Operates 24/7.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbia Power & Water Systems is a municipal public utility that distributes electricity (purchased from TVA) to ~38,000 meters, treats and distributes water drawn from the Duck River to ~28,000 meters, and provides high-speed broadband internet (CPWS Internet / PowerNet) over a hybrid fiber/coax and expanding FTTx network to ~7,000 customers in Columbia and Maury County, Tennessee. Customer billing and account management are centralized on the NISC-powered SmartHub web portal and mobile app.

Product overview

Columbia Power and Water Systems is a public utility offering three core services: electricity distribution (Power), water treatment and distribution (Water), and broadband internet (PowerNet). The company operates a unified customer experience through SmartHub, its account management platform. PowerNet internet runs on a hybrid fiber/coax network with FTTx expansion, offering residential plans up to 1 Gbps and business plans up to 200 Mbps. Additional offerings include energy advisory services, renewable power options, security lighting, and community programs like the Good Samaritan and RoundUp assistance programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Power Services Electricity distribution services for ~38,000 electric meters in Columbia and Maury County, including outage management via OMS map, vegetation management, security lighting, electric safety programs, and renewable/backup generation options. Power is purchased from TVA and rates are TVA-regulated.
• Water Services Water treatment and distribution service drawing water from the Duck River, serving ~28,000 water meters in Columbia and Maury County. Includes safety/quality monitoring, lead and copper reporting, conservation and drought management based on Normandy Reservoir levels, cross-connection/backflow prevention, and frozen pipe guidance. Water rates approved by Columbia City Council.
• PowerNet Internet (CPWS Internet) High-speed broadband internet service (CPWS Internet / PowerNet) operating on a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network within the City of Columbia and expanding fiber-to-the-home (FTTx) in select county neighborhoods. Serves ~7,000 residential and business customers with residential plans up to 1 Gbps and business plans up to 200 Mbps, with static IPv4 options under service agreement. Operated 24/7.
• SmartHub Customer Platform Customer account management web portal and mobile app providing bill payment, paperless billing, autopay enrollment, daily and hourly energy usage monitoring, alerts/notifications (email and SMS), and account management for power, water, and broadband services. Available 24/7.
• Energy Solutions (Commercial Energy Advisory) Commercial and industrial energy advisory services delivered in partnership with TVA, including energy audits, infrared analysis, lighting analysis, and design reviews for business customers seeking to improve energy efficiency.
• Renewable Power and Backup Generation Green power options and backup generation solutions for residential and commercial customers interested in renewable energy adoption and emergency preparedness.
• Security Lighting Service Outdoor security lighting services for residential and commercial properties, billed through CPWS electric service.
• Water Impact Fee / New Connection Service One-time impact fees for new water connections, scaled by meter size (3/4' through 10'), with scheduled increases in July 2025 and July 2026. Multi-year financial obligation embedded in new service setup.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 consecutive years of GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 1939Power supply partnership established May 15, 1939 with 20-year agreement. TVA supplies electricity to CPWS as one of the lowest-cost power providers in the country. TVA also provides energy consultant services and STEM education grant programs.
• Habitat for Humanity of Williamson and Maury CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting affordable housing. Habitat builds up to 20 homes per year in Maury County. CPWS CEO Jonathan Hardin expressed commitment to helping Habitat succeed.
• Maury AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year partnership commitment to economic development initiatives. CPWS staff serve on Maury Alliance board, councils, and committees. Partnership supports industrial recruitment and county growth.
• The Well OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing free groceries to families in Williamson and Maury counties. CPWS hosts food drives for the organization.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVA partnership funding STEM Center at Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee through Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. TVA has invested $1.5 million in STEM grants across the Tennessee Valley region, with 339 of 528 applications selected for funding.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central TennesseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation STEM Center in partnership with TVA and CPWS. Center provides robotics, 3D printing, coding, and chemistry learning opportunities.
• Cal Ripken, Sr. FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing STEM Centers to Boys & Girls Clubs. CPWS partnered with TVA to bring STEM Center to Columbia location.
• Lewisburg Electric SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid partner that provided assistance during winter storm restoration, working alongside CPWS crews to expedite power recovery.
• Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. (BVI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVA retiree organization partnering to award $1.5 million in STEM education grants across the Tennessee Valley.
• VanillaDirectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCash payment processing partnership enabling customers to pay utility bills at Dollar General, CVS, Walgreens, and other retail locations. $1.50 convenience fee per transaction.
• MyBundle.TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStreaming TV partnership offering cord-cutting alternatives. MyBundle provides personalized streaming recommendations, watchlists, and cost tracking for CPWS Internet customers.
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)coreTechnology or IntegrationRegulatory oversight for water quality, drought management plans, and water system permits. CPWS must comply with TDEC requirements for water sampling and distribution standards.
• Tennessee Duck River Development AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency administering water supply benefits. CPWS charges an additional $.05 per 1,000 gallons amortization charge for the City's share of water supply benefits.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreTechnology or IntegrationEPA administers the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program for water infrastructure. CPWS approved for $75 million SRF loan for water treatment plant expansion.
• Middle Tennessee Industrial Development AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partnership supporting industrial recruitment and regional business development efforts.
• Maury County ChamberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner supporting economic development and community programs.
• Economic AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partnership supporting Maury County growth initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga): Chattanooga municipal utility providing electricity and fiber broadband; a leading example of a Tennessee public power provider combining electric distribution with a community broadband network, closely mirroring CPWS's power-plus-broadband model.
• Jackson Energy Authority: Tennessee municipal utility delivering electricity, water, wastewater, natural gas, and broadband; a very close analog to CPWS as a multi-service, city-owned utility serving a single-county market.
• Morristown Utility Systems (FiberNET): Tennessee municipal utility offering electric, water, wastewater, and fiber broadband, matching CPWS's triple-play essential-service model in a comparable community setting.
• Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES): TVA-supplied municipal utility providing electric power and broadband internet to a Tennessee city, directly comparable to CPWS's power-and-broadband offering under TVA power supply.
• Clarksville Department of Electricity / CDE Lightband: Tennessee municipal electric utility that also operates a fiber broadband network (Lightband), closely paralleling CPWS's electric-plus-broadband strategy in Middle Tennessee.
• Tullahoma Utilities Authority: Middle Tennessee municipal utility providing electricity, water, wastewater, and fiber broadband (LightTUBe), a strong regional analog to CPWS's combined utility model.

Broad incumbents

• Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW): Large Tennessee municipal utility delivering electricity, gas, and water; comparable as a city-owned multi-utility but at far greater scale than CPWS.
• Nashville Electric Service: One of the largest TVA-served public electric distributors in the country; comparable as a Tennessee municipal electric utility but focused solely on power at metropolitan scale.

Regional players

• Murfreesboro Electric Department: Middle Tennessee municipal electric distributor supplied by TVA, comparable in electric-utility model and geography but without CPWS's water and broadband lines.
• Pulaski Electric System: Small Middle Tennessee municipal utility offering electricity and fiber broadband (Energize), comparable to CPWS's model in a neighboring service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Power and Water Systems